Fire-escape.



D. BROWN. FIRE ESOAPE.

Patentd Dec. 8, 1914.

2 SEEETS-SHBET 2.

Fzy

NORRIS PETERS 30. FHOTDALJTMO.. WASHING FUN. D. C

T 'il:

DAVID BROWN, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Application filed March 17, 1914.

To all whom it may camera Be it known that I, DAVID BROWN, a citizen of the United States, resding at Jersey City, countyof Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specication.

This invention consists of a new and iniproved form of fire escape which is particularly adapted for use in large buildings where people congregate in large numbers, such as factories, schools, oflice buildings, hotels, etc.

Folding ire escapes heretofore have been built with the steps or rungs of the ladder portion in a perpendicular line, when the escape is opened for use such for example as typifled in U. S. Letters Patent ho. '723,194; issued to me on March 17th 1903. This perpendicular Construction is both dangerous and inconvenient, especially when used by women as experience has demonstrated that they become frightened and loose their hold when coming down a perpendieular ladder, and by reason of their dresses catching on the rungs of a st 'aight ladder.

The present invention obviates these difliculties by reason of its Construction, which consists of a series of stationary platforms, with a .swinging platform pivotally connected to each of the platforme. A ladder is pivoted to each swinging platform and it has its upper end tilted against a movable floor section carried by a swinging platform. i

The forward portions of the swinging platforms are pivotally connected to a vertical ladder which rests on the ground when the escape is in operation. This ladder together with the swinging platforms can be swung upwardly when the fire escape is folded. The swingng platforme in this de- Vice fold into the stationary platforme while the tilted ladders slide upwardly and move the floor sections inwardly so that all the parts with the exception of the vertical ladder will be housed in the stationary platforme. The invention thus contemplates a fire escape which can be folded into small compass and also by means of counter weights can be let down or unfolded by a single operator without breakage of the arts.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevaton showing the device ready Specification of Letters Patent. i

Patented Dec. 8, 1914:.

Serial No. 825,:277.

for use. Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the device folded up. Fig. 3 is a front ele Vation of Fig. 1. Fig. l is a plan view of the same. Fig. 5 is a detail section of a novable floor taken along the line a' a' of Fig. 41:. Fig, (i is a similar section taken along; the line ;2 7 of the same. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical. 'section showing' the parte folded. Fig. S is a front ele 'ation of a portion of a tilted ladder.

The device consists essentially of a series of stationary platforme having rails (t secured to the outside of a building 7), there being of course one platform for each story or floor of the building. These platforms are constructed of floor rods 0 and vertical rods (Z connected to the upper and lower rails a in the usual way. Pivotally connected to each of the stationaryplatforme at e is a swing'ing platform provided with rails f having floor rods g and vertical rods fixed to the upper and lower rails as shown. The swinging platform extends from an opening' forned in the front of the stationary platform see Fig. 4:. Movably uounted on each of the platforms is a 'floor section consisting of a frame 'l: having transverse floor rods j, as indicated in Fiy. t, secured to the said side rails. These side rails are provided with a series of steps 7; each stop having secured to it a bolt m with a head a. The stem of the bolt extends through a hole o see Fig. 6, located in a 'ail of the swinging platform. To each of the swinging platforms is piveted at 7 a slantcd or tlted ladder (j having side rails or banisters r swingingly mounted at s see Fig. 8, so as to fold toward each other when the escape is out of action or closed.

To the forward portion of each swinging` platform f is Pivotally connected at t a vertical ladder including side rails a with rungs e parallel to the floor rods of the swingingyplatforns. This laddcr extends from the top swinging platform and far enough below the lower platform to rest on the ground when the escape is in nse.

A chute 'w is pivoted at 12 to the lower portion of the vertical ladder and it has its npper end tilted against the Inovable floor` of the lower platform. This chute is also provided with hand rails r which fold inwardly the same as the tilted ladders noted above. This chute may be in the form of a ladder, but the Construction shown is preferred so that a person using the escape can slide the last distance instead of cliinbng it. To each hand rail 7 a cable 13 is attached and the other end is attached to the ladder g or chato w, so that when the device is opened the hand-rails or banisters will he held in open position as shown in Fig. 3, and will fold of their own weightwhen the device is closed, see Fig. 8. To the center of the top swinging platform f is attached a chain or cahle l l passing over a pulley 15 Secured to the outside of the building, and over another p lley 16 inside the building and attached at its other end to a counterhalance 17. `While the counter-balance 17 is here shown in a receptacle 18 close to the wall of the building it will of course be understood that the well and counterbalance iray he constrncted in any desired part of the building'. Attached to the long outer "vertical la dder u, ei her at 19 or adjacent to each swinging platform are cables 20 passing over a series of p'illeys 21 and 22, and attached to a counterhalance 23. At-

to the bottom of the ladder u is a e :3% for pnlling the device from its d position shown in Fig. 2 to its operae position shown in Fig. 1. Various devices may he used to acconplish this resuit, for example in a factory or hotel an etectrical appliance might be used so that the dei'ice inay he put into operative position simply pushing a button. `he weights may he omitted in low buildings, but in bllliiing having three or more stories it would he necessary to hare a Very large a -d heavy weight 17 to connter'oalance the weight of all the platforme, therefore it has been found more practicahle to have the small Vv'eights connected to each platforin to serve as auxiliaries to the large weight.

Each ladder g' tilted against one of the nioi'able doors when the ladder is down, but when the ladder is swung Upward as shown, in Fig. 2, the inovahle floor 2' will be pushed toward the front of the building, and thus give space for the swinging ladder Q to slide between the novable floor and the 'Vertical ladder u. 'i lhen the inovahle floor is in this positi on the bolts m move with the floor z' until the head n of each bolt strikes the opposite side of the rail where it is downward movement of the movable floor.`

lt will he seen that each tilted ladder has its lower end swingingly' connected to a swinging platform and the upper end resting against the Inoi'ahle floor of the preceding platform.

l claim:

1. In a fire escape the combination with a i series of stationary platforme, of a swinging platform pii 'otally connected to each of the platforme, a ladder pivoted to each swinging platform and slidingly tilted against a swinging platform. i

2. In a fire escape the combination with a series of stationary platforme, of a Swinging platform pivotally connected to each of the platforins, a ladder having side rails pivotalb connected to each swinging plat forni and slidingly tilted against a swinging piatforni, a pair of hand rails swingingly connected to the side rails of the tilted ladder.

3. In a fire escape the coinhination with a series of stationary platforins, of a swinging platform pirotally connected to each of tae platfornis, each swinging platform be i." provided with a inorable floor, a ladder pivoted to each swinging platform and slidingly tilted against the novable fioor of the preceding platform.

4 in a fire escape the conhinaton with a stationary platform, of a swinging platform provided with a novable floor, 'a Vertical ladder having side rails pivoted to the end of the swinging platform, a chute or ladder pivoted to the lower portions of the Vertical ladder and slidingly tilted against the inovable 'floor of the swinging platform.

in testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two snbscribing witnesses.

DAVID BROWN.

li itnesses i `WILLIAM MILLER,

limis. H. ALMSTAEDT.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by adressng the Commissionr of Patents,

Vfashington, l'). C.

Gol 

